The way in which the prime minister is standing up to the United States of America for Christopher “Dudus” Coke is quite commendable. It is reminiscent of Michael Manley and the removal of US Ambassador Vincent deRoulet in July 1973. Have others been extradited based on similar methods to gather information as in the case of Coke since Bruce Golding became prime minister? If others have been, then why the disparity?

At the same time there have been calls for the government to do whatever is necessary to send Coke to the USA. We read in the Bible that Caiaphas the high priest said of Jesus as recorded in John 11:50: “…it is better that one man should die for his people than for a whole nation to perish”. Fortunately, in the case of Dudus, the death penalty is not being contemplated.

We are now halfway through Lent as observed by many churches. In a little more than three weeks’ time it will be Palm Sunday, then Holy Week, including Good Friday. The gospel accounts of Jesus’ passion and death, including the words of Caiaphas, will be read, reflected on and will be the main text for preaching.

In asking why Dudus doesn’t give up himself, are we behaving like Caiaphas?

Many may consider it quite bizarre to be comparing Jesus Christ to a Jamaican area don. Still, I believe that the question should be looked at and meditated upon by all, while reading St John’s gospel account of Jesus’ passion and death.

But Bruce Golding’s comment that it could be anyone of us does not hold water because others who have also been extradited have not been treated in a similar manner. Would those making the call for Dudus to give up himself say so for only an accused or convicted person, or would they also do it for someone who is definitely innocent?

Bruce Golding is now between a rock and a hard place. Whatever he does in the case of Christopher Dudus Coke, he is in serious political trouble. It was bound to happen one day because of this business by both major political parties of creating political garrisons.

It is quite possible that to regain confidence the prime minister could be contemplating early elections, despite a strong fall in his government’s popularity, as can be seen even without the help of opinion polls. After all, the Opposition People’s National Party is obviously not election-ready, so now would be the time to do it.

The PNP still needs to sort out its internal divisions and this is common knowledge. And in its present state it will not attract the type of money needed to win. There are plans afoot for the Chinese Government to help with road work on the Norman Manley highway and in other locations in Jamaica. Some 18,000 people are to be employed.

I imagine that Bruce Golding has learnt from PJ Patterson here. When the Jamaica Labour Party’s Shahine Robinson won the Northeast St Ann by-election on March 8, 2001, it looked as if the PNP government was losing popularity and would lose the following election.

But extensive road-work programmes and the construction of highways intensified after that which was still in progress in 2002. And in the elections of October 16, 2002, the PNP won a fourth term. Had the PNP’s Carol Jackson defeated Shahine Robinson, the PNP might not have woken up to organise a fourth-term victory.

If 18,000 workers get paid and spend their money, it should circulate far and wide. If that happens, very few might remember the present economic constraints. If Golding plans to call an election, would he do it now when the PNP is not election-ready or wait until after the jobs have been handed out? Suppose he waits and the PNP becomes election-ready in the time being?

But if there are early elections would it be because of one man, Christopher “Dudus” Coke? Is this extradition issue a test as to how we are similar or different to Caiaphas the high priest? The possible contemplation of an election could explain some of the positions taken.

We all heard the prime minister’s explanation as to why he would not sell Air Jamaica to the Jamaican Airline Pilots’ Association. Speaking for myself, I will give my moral support to the effort of JALPA to buy their own airline.

But the financial backers of the Jamaica Labour Party might not want JALPA to own an airline. It might set a precedent for workers in every business enterprise to want shares in their business at their workplaces, which incidentally is exactly what I would love to see. It would certainly be in keeping with the encyclical Mater et Magistra (Mother and Teacher) by Pope John XXIII in 1961.

If Golding is contemplating an election, would he do anything to offend his financial backers lest they withdraw their support and money? Is any plan to call early elections worth one man who is wanted by the USA? If we think that one man is not worth the trouble, are we behaving like Caiaphas? I do not know the answer.

ekrubm765@yahoo.com